Finding your true hair type can assist you in finding the right haircare regimen. While all hair is made of keratin, a type of protein, our curl pattern determines how much of our natural oils reached the ends of our hair. The most well know hair typing system is the Andre System developed by Andre Walker. While it has received mixed reviews on the hair care boards, I have found it to give a general idea of the hair type you have. I think some of the natural hair boards aren't happy about the fact that the Andre system pretty much lumps African American hair into one category but I don't see it that way. According to the Andre system my hair type is 3 and both of my parents are black. African American hair comes in many different forms from wavy to curly to kinky and all combinations of each. Here is the Andre system:
Type 1
This hair is straight with no discernible curl or wave pattern. This type of hair tends to get oily and is usually shiny.
Type 2
Hair that has some soft waves, but little or no real curl. It doesn't form rings, just waves. It typically is more coarse than Type 1 hair and will cling to the scalp in long "S" shaped waves.
Type 3
Hair has a more definite "S" pattern to it with the "S" being more tightly formed. It will typically be relatively soft and will have less shine than type 1 or 2 hair. It will straighten out or form ringlets when wet but will draw up into a curlier pattern when it dries. This hair type is typical of biracial (African and Caucasian mix) people and of Blacks of a more mixed heritage.
Type 4Hair will have kinks and twists and possibly coils but does not form an "S" shape. It may be "L" shaped with bends in it. It may form tight coils or "O" shapes (not really the same as the "ringlets"formed by Type 3 hair. This type of hair generally doesn't change shape much wet or dry. It can be wiry and usually is fragile. It tends to be drier than other hair types because the bends and twists not only provide points that are more fragile, they actually make it hard for the natural oil (sebum) produced by the scalp to reach the ends of the hair shaft. Because the cuticles do not lay flat on Type 4 hair, the hair tends to be less shiny than Types 1, 2 and 3 and people will often think natural Black hair is dry or dull looking.
